Bukagan Hill - Ozamiz City

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THE BELLS OF BUKAGAN HILL

A tourist in Ozamiz City should never miss seeing the tower of the four great bells at the top of Bukagan Hill. They are worth the sweat and tires feet if one attempts to go up the hill on foot or the different phobias one experiences as the vehicle goes up. Aside from the wonder of the bells one gets a bonus, the beautiful scenarios around including the panorama of Ozamiz. The bells christened by their German casters as “St. Peter”, “St. Marien”, “St. Joseph” and “St. Michael” were purchased by Bishop Patrick Cronin, D.D. for the Immaculate Conception Cathedral for 15,000 Deutschmarks. Upon their arrival, they were found to be too heavy and too large for the cathedral's belfry. All in all, they weigh seven tons. The catholic community felt that it was very expensive to construct a special belfry for them considering that a lot of fund raising effort was made for the building of the cathedral and the installing of the pipe organ. The bells remained on the spot where they were placed for years.

It was through the efforts of Ozamiz City Mayor Fernando T. Bernad that the bells were finally given a place of their own, the Bukagan Hill. Mayor Bernad approached Bishop Jesus Y. Varela and asked him to donate the bells to the city for Bukagan Hill development. After consulting the people, Bishop Varela willingly donated the bells.

Mayor Bernad did not lose time in raising funds through the help of the Jaycees and other civic organizations. He then had a road to the top of the hill and the bell tower constructed. In due time the huge bells were transported and installed.

By July 16, 1948 the inauguration of the bells atop Bukagan Hill took place. Mayor Fernando T. Bernad's guests represented various sectors of the city. Among others, the guests were Bishop Jesus y. Varela (Catholic community), Captain Unte (Islamic community) Bishop Mauricio Serena (Protestant community), Rev. Arturo Bitos (Philippine Independent Church Community), Judge Cerefino Ong (Judiciary), Engr. Ernesto Garces and Engr. Vicente Tanseco (City Engineers), Captain Parojinog (Police Force) and Dr. Roman Pereyra (donor of the reconstructed guard house).

It was through the efforts of Ozamiz City Mayor Fernando T. Bernad that the bells were finally given a place of their own, the Bukagan Hill. Mayor Bernad approached Bishop Jesus Y. Varela and asked him to donate the bells to the city for Bukagan Hill development. After consulting the people, Bishop Varela willingly donated the bells.

Mayor Bernad did not lose time in raising funds through the help of the Jaycees and other civic organizations. He then had a road to the top of the hill and the bell tower constructed. In due time the huge bells were transported and installed.

By July 16, 1948 the inauguration of the bells atop Bukagan Hill took place. Mayor Fernando T. Bernad's guests represented various sectors of the city. Among others, the guests were Bishop Jesus y. Varela (Catholic community), Captain Unte (Islamic community) Bishop Mauricio Serena (Protestant community), Rev. Arturo Bitos (Philippine Independent Church Community), Judge Cerefino Ong (Judiciary), Engr. Ernesto Garces and Engr. Vicente Tanseco (City Engineers), Captain Parojinog (Police Force) and Dr. Roman Pereyra (donor of the reconstructed guard house).